WORCESTER has the highest rate of dog thefts in the county according to police figures.
West Mercia Police released data last month, following a Freedom of Information Request made on February 26, which showed 13 dogs were taken from their owners since January 2013. The city is closely followed by Kinderminster which saw nine dogs stolen, int the period.
Since the start of 2015, seven dogs were stolen from outbuildings and kennels in gardens, on one occasion four springer spaniels were taken at once.
The rest of the county has a much lower amount of recorded thefts with Redditch, Evesham and Malvern only having three and Droitwich, Bromsgrove and Pershore experiencing just two reports in the last two years.
A spokesperson for West Mercia Police said: “We know having a much-loved family pet go missing or stolen can be very distressing for owners and we would encourage people to take the necessary steps to help prevent this from happening.
“This includes micro-chipping, making sure gardens are secure and when necessary, keeping your dog on the lead.
“Our advice is always to encourage dog owners to be vigilant and be wary of strangers who may show a lot of interest in your dog.”
